The England & Wales Cricket Board "is no longer opposed to cricket becoming an Olympic sport and will discuss a potential bid in the coming months," according to Sam Sheringham of the BBC. The ECB "has previously been reluctant to support a bid due to a clash with the English domestic season." But new ECB CEO Tom Harrison said, "A successful Olympic movement for your sport can be transformational. England was often seen as the barrier to this. That's just not the case." Int'l Cricket Council President David Richardson, who sits on the MCC committee, said it would be a "huge opportunity" for players. Former ECB Chair Giles Clarke "held reservations over the concept, which feature in a new documentary film Death of a Gentleman." But Clarke's replacement Colin Graves and new CEO Harrison, "are more open to the idea." Harrison said, "Cricket should have the debate about Olympic representation" (BBC, 8/20). The AFP reported cricket officials "have so turned their back on Olympic
involvement, with England often seen as the major stumbling block." Oval protest organizer Sam Collins
of the #changecricket campaign said, "At a time
when every other sport wants to expand, the ICC is actually shrinking the Cricket World Cup and doesn't want to
participate in the Olympics" (AFP, 8/21).
